Spikes placed on season-ending IR

The hits just keep coming to the Patriots defense.

Linebacker Brandon Spikes, who has been dealing with a knee injury for much of the season, was surprisingly placed on season-ending injured reserve on Monday.

Jamie Collins and Dane Fletcher will likely see more time in Spikes' absence. One silver lining for New England is that Spikes did his best work in the base defense against the run; he rarely played in the nickel and dime packages. The Colts ranked 20th in the NFL in rushing offense.